What does Nestlé USA think about GMO Ingredients?

Our Perspective

At Nestlé USA, we hear you. We know you want to know more about what is in your food, how it is made, and where it comes from. That’s why we are offering more choices. We are part of a global company that has spent 150 years putting thought and care into making our food delicious, high-quality and nutritious. And we are doing more so we can continue to meet your preferences as they evolve.

When it comes to genetically-engineered ingredients, commonly referred to as GMO ingredients or GMOs, we know that you may have questions. That’s why we are working to make GMO ingredients easier to understand and identify in our products.

What is a GMO Ingredient?

Farmers have been using techniques like selective breeding, cross pollination or hybridization for many years to improve their crops. GMOs are different in that scientists have picked out a desired trait, copied it and placed it into a different plant species. You'll also see GMO technology referred to as gene-splicing, bioengineering or genetic engineering.

GMO crops have been widely adopted by farmers in the U.S. and around the world over the past 20 years. The most widely grown GMO crops for the U.S. food supply are corn, soybeans, canola and sugar beets. The only other GMO crops that are widely grown in the US are alfalfa, squash, and cotton.

Our Commitment to Safety

Foods made with GMO ingredients are as safe as foods made with ingredients from conventional crops. GMO crops are rigorously tested in consultation with the FDA and USDA before they reach the market. Other US science and health organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Medical Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and many of the other regulatory agencies and organizations that study the safety of the food supply, including the World Health Organization, Health Canada, and the European Commission, have found that GMO crops are just as safe to consume as their conventional counterparts. Get more information on what GMOs are, their safety record, and how they're tested from the U.S. FDA and the USDA.

Labeling at a Glance

Starting in 2016, we will begin to use a newly developed, common logo on packages to identify which Nestlé USA food and beverage products do not contain GMO ingredients. We believe using a common logo will enable people to understand which products do not contain GMO ingredients more quickly and easily.

Extra Verification

We are working with a third-party verifier, SGS, to ensure our supply chain and manufacturing processes are consistent with the “No GMO ingredients” claim. We take this extra step to provide our consumers with additional confidence. SGS, a global company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a trusted provider of inspection, verification, testing and certification services. See the full SGS No GE Ingredients Supply Chain Process Verification Standard.

Q&A

Are GMO ingredients safe?

Foods made with GMO ingredients are as safe as foods made with ingredients from conventional crops. GMO crops are rigorously tested in consultation with the FDA and USDA before they reach the market. Other US science and health organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Medical Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and many of the other regulatory agencies and organizations that study the safety of the food supply, including the World Health Organization, Health Canada, and the European Commission, have found that GMO crops are just as safe to consume as their conventional counterparts. Get more information on what GMOs are, their safety record, and how they're tested from the U.S. FDA and the USDA.

Why are you offering more choices made with no GMO ingredients?

More and more, our consumers’ tastes and preferences are changing, as is what they define as relevant or important. To meet those diverse interests, we’re listening and expanding our labeling and portfolio just as Nestlé has globally over our 150-year history. We recognize that many of our consumers may prefer foods that don’t contain GMO ingredients and want to easily identify them. That’s why we’re broadening our Nestlé USA product portfolio to offer more choices labeled as not containing GMO ingredients.

Do you support GMO labeling?

We fully supports consumers’ desire to know what is in their food and beverages and we welcome federal legislation to establish a national standard for the mandatory disclosure of foods containing GMO ingredients. Consumers currently can obtain information about our products from our Consumer Engagement Services at 1-800-225-2270 or online, and we are providing more information on our brand websites.

How can you be assured a product is made without GMO ingredients?

We are working with a third-party verifier, SGS, to ensure our supply chain and manufacturing processes are consistent with the “No GMO ingredients” claim. We take this extra step to provide our consumers with additional confidence in the claim. SGS, a global company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a trusted provider of inspection, verification, testing and certification services. See the full SGS No GE Ingredients Supply Chain Process Verification Standard.

Do you consider ingredients derived from animals fed with GMO feed to be GMO ingredients?

We do not consider ingredients derived from animals fed with GMO feed to be GMO ingredients. This aligns with the SGS No GE Ingredients Supply Chain Standard and laws and regulations in the European Union and Australia.

Q. What other things is Nestlé USA doing to drive greater transparency?

We want to make it easier for you to learn more about our products. We’re adding new tools and updating our labels to tell you about our products, such as those that contain no artificial flavors and colors, are gluten-free and are made with dairy ingredients from cows not treated with rBST. You can also reach Consumer Engagement Services – open 24/7 – at 1-800-225-2270 or online.